Apparatus for cleaning containers



F 28, 1933- 'L. DEUTSCH 1,899,019

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CONTAINERS Filed Sept 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Feb. 28, 1933. uTsc 1 ,899,019

APPARQTUS FOR CLEANING CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Feb. 28 1933 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE LEO nnu'rscn, or BEAVER, rnnnsxnvama -.APPA.RATU S FORCLEANING CONTAINERS Application filed September 2, 1927. Serial No.217,023.-

This invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning containers and thelike, and more particularly to a motor vehicle service station unit forcleaning gear casings and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which shallbe very simple in its construction and operation, which will comprisebut a few parts, and which will require but little attention to maintainthe same w in operative condition.

A further object of the'invention is provide in such an apparatus anejector havin means for increasing the efiiciency thereo A furtherobject of the invention is to providesu'ch an apparatus so constructedthatthe greasy fiuid withdrawn from the gear casing and discharged intothe container will not foam to an objectionable extent.

A further object of the invention is to prowide in such an apparatusimproved means for supporting the pump within the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide in such an apparatusimproved means.

for keeping the strainer clean.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the apparatus is describedin detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, of an apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectiontaken vertically through the pump andthe inlet casing, Fig. 3 is a frontelevation of the upperportion of the apparatus showing the ejector; andFig. 4 is .a transverse section taken on the line 44 of Flg. 1.

' In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention,but it will be understood that-the particular embodiment here shown hasbeen chosen for the purposes of illustration only and thatthe variousparts of the apparatus may take different forms and may be arranged indifi'erent ways with- 1 outdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

In that form here illustrated the apparatus comprises a container 5 forcleaning fluid, such for example, as=kerosene, and which is preferably.cylindricalin form and the top wall'6 of which is removable andconstitutes a closure and also a support for various parts of themechanism. Mounted on the container 5 is a pump which in the presentinstance is supfported within the container from the top 0 wall 6'thereof and which is preferably a rotary pump, as shown at 7.

The intake of the pump is immersed in the fluid within the container,and the discharge 'pipe 8 leads from the pump through the top wall 6 andis connected .with a pressure line which is preferably in the form of aflexible conduit or hose 9 adapted to have its discharge end inserted inthe casing to be cleaned. If desired, the discharge end of the conduitmay be provided with a nozzle 10 having a manually controlled valve 11to control the-discharge of the fluid therefrom. A suction conduit isconnected with the container and is adapted to have its intake endinserted in the casing to be cleaned so that the cleaning fluid, greaseand other matter within the casing may be withdrawn therefrom anddelivered to the container. This suctionline is here shown as comprisinga flexible conduit or hose 12 which, if desired,

. maybe provided at its intake end with a nozzle 13 having a manualycontrolled valve 14.

Connected with this suction conduit 12 and the pump that this jet willsubstantially fill 9 the bore of the ejector, and in the device hereshown this means comprises a pin 16 extending through the ejector in thepath of the jet of fluid.

Because of the considerable quantities of grease contained in the fluidwhich is discharged into the container 5'this fluid has a tendency whenagitated to foam to an extent which is highly objectionable and Ir havefound that by directing the incoming column of fluid from the ejectoragainst the side wall of the container above the level of the liquidtherein this foaming can be entirely avoided or reduced to such anextent that it is not objectionable. As here shown, the inner ordischarge end of the ejector is provided with a curved deflector 17 soarranged that it will cause the column of fluid to be discharged fromthe ejector in a substantially horizontal plane a ainst the wall of thecontainer.

and at an o tuse angle to that wall.

The pump 7 may be mounted within the container in any suitable manner,so long as its intake is submerged. In the present apparatus the pumpitself is entirely submerged in the cleaning fluid and it is here shownas connected with the top wall or closure 6 by means of rods 18 and acylindrical spacing member 19 of relatively large diameter is interposedbetween the pump and the top wall to maintain the pump in the properspaced relation to the top wall. A driving shaft 20 is directlyconnected at its lower end to the pump 7 and extends upwardly throughthe spacing member 19 and the top wall 6 and is directly connected atits upper end with the shaft of an electric motor 21, the connectionbeing preferably a separable one as shown at 22 to permit of the readyremoval of the motor. By thus directly connecting the motor with thepump and eliminating the gears and other intermediate parts which wouldotherwise be necessary, I greatly simplify the mechanism and so reducethe number of parts therein as to materially decrease the cost ofconstruction and to simplify the maintenance of the apparatus. Thisdirect connection permits the motor to be mounted directly on andcentrally of the top wall 6 of the container, thereby providing a verycompact and convenient arrange ment. 4

The fluid which is withdrawn from the gear casing which is being cleanedcontains ardened grease and other solid matter, and in order to preventsuch matter from entering the pump I have provided the latter with astrainer. In that form of the mechanism here shown an inlet casing 23 isconnected with the pump intake and provided with a foraminous wall orstrainer 24. As here shown, this inlet casing is aranged below anddirectly connected with the pump. Means are also provided'to prevent thegrease and other forelgn matter in the fluid from accumulating on thestrainer to such an extent as to interfere with the free flow of thefluid through the same. This is accomplished by directing a stream orstreams of fluid against the strainer, and in the present instance thisfluid is taken from the pump independently of the ejector. To this end asecond and relatively small discharge pipe 25 is connected with thedischarge side of the pump and has a portion 26 extending across thestrainer 24, this portion of the pipe having in each side thereof aseries of small holes from which the fluid is discharged across the faceof the strainer, thus preventing the grease from adhering to thestrainer and washing off any matter which may come in contact with thestrainer.

In the present arrangement the apparatus is shown as mounted on a truckconsisting of wheels 27 and upright handles 28, whereby the apparatusmay be readily transported from one place to another.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, I wishit to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the detailsthereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in theart.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A motor vehicle service station unit for cleaning gear casings andthe like, comprising a container for cleaning fluid, a suction line toconnect the casing which is to be cleaned with said container, anejector in said suction line, a pump arranged within said container, andhaving its inlet immersed in the liquid therein, means including atubular spacing member for supporting said pump on and in spacedrelation to the top wall of said container, a motor supported by saidcontainer, and means within said tubular spacing member for establishinga driving connection between said motor and said pump. 7

2. A motor vehicle service station unit for cleaning gear casings andthe like, comprising a container .for cleaning fluid, a suction line tocommunicate with the casing to be cleaned, an ejector connected withsaid suction line and having its discharge end within said container andarranged to discharge the fluid withdrawn from said casing directly intosaid container and against the side wall thereof above the level of theliquid therein, a pump communicating with the interior of said containerand discharging fluid through said ejector, an inlet casing immersed inthe fluid in said container, communicating with the inlet of said pumpand having a foraminous wall, and means for operating said pump.

3. A motor vehicle service station unitfor cleaning gear casings and thelike, comprising acontainer for cleaning fluid, a pressure line todeliver cleaning fluid to the casing to be cleaned, a suction line tocommunicate with the casing to be cleaned, an ejector connected withsaid suction line and having its discharge end extending directly intosaid container and provided with a curved deflector to discharge thefluid withdrawn from said casing laterally against the side wall of saidcontainer above the level of the liquid therein, a pump connected withsaid pressure line and said ejector, an inlet casing immersed in thefluid in said container and communicating with the inlet of said pump,and means for operating said pump.

4. A motor vehicle service station unit for cleaning gear casings andthelike, comprising a container for cleaning. fluid, a suction line tocommunicate with the casing to be cleaned, an ejector connected withsaid suction line and arranged to discharge the fluid withdrawn fromsaid casing into said vcontainer, a pumpcommunicating with the interiorof said container and adapted to discharge a jet of fluid through saidejector, a device arranged in the passageway through said ejector tospread said jet of fluid, and means for operating said pump.

5. A motor vehicle service station unit for cleaning gear casings andthe like, comprising a container for cleaning fluid, a suction line tocommunicate with the casing to be cleaned, an ejector connected withsaid suction line and arranged to discharge into said container, a pumpcommunicating with the interior of said container and adapted todischarge a jet of fluid through said ejector, a. pin extending throughsaid ejector in the path of said jet and serving to spread. the same,and means for operating said pump.

v6. A motor vehicle service station unit for cleaning gear casings andthe like, comprising a container for cleaning fluid, a suction line tocommunicate with the casing to be cleaned, an ejector connected withsaid suction line and arranged to discharge the fluid withdrawn fromsaid casing into said container, a pump communicating with the interiorof said container and having means to discharge fluid through saidejector, a strainer for separating solid matter from the fluid whichenters said pump, means independent of said ejector to dischargeflfluidfrom said pump against said strainer to keep the same clean, and meansto operate said pump.

7. A motor vehicle service station unit for cleaning gear casings andthe like, comprising a container for cleaning fluid, a suction line tocommunicate with the casing to be cleaned. an ejector connected to saidsuction line and arranged to discharge the fluid withdrawn from saideasing into said container, a pump communicating with the interior ofsaid container, a conduit leading from said pump and arranged todischarge fluid through said ejector, a strainer for separating solidmatter from the fluid which enters said pump, a second discharge conduitlead-' pump and arranged to dising from the said charge fluid againstsaid strainer to'keep the same clean, and means for operating said dayof September, 1927. I

. LEO DEUTSCH.

ump. p Signed at Beaver, Pennsylvania, this first

